ON STUDYING MANAGERIAL ELITES

Abstract

The study of managerial elites is one of the most important, yet neglected areas of social science research. This paper synthesizes and critically reviews three intellectual traditions in the study of managerial elites. These are: interlocking directorates and the study of institutional and societal power, the study of boards and directors, and the composition and correlates of top management teams. The paper concludes by arguing for the development of a complementary research tradition which combines a contextual and processual analysis of managerial elites.